Vascular surgery
Vascular surgery focuses on the vascular system such as blood vessels, large and small — as well as the lymphatic system, which moves infection-fighting white blood cells through the body.
Vascular surgeons are medical doctors or doctors of osteopathic medicine with advanced training in preventing, diagnosing, and treating blood-vessel problems.
What do Vascular Surgeons treat?
Common conditions a vascular surgeon treats:
- Aneurysm: An aneurysm is a bulge or artery widening.
- Carotid artery disease: Carotid artery disease occurs when there is atherosclerosis the buildup of waxy plaque made of fat, cholesterol, and other substances in the carotid arteries.
- Lymphedema: Lymphedema is a condition in which lymph fluid builds up in the soft tissues of the arms, legs.
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): Peripheral arterial disease — also known as peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is when there is atherosclerosis in the arteries anywhere outside of the heart and brain.
- Venous insufficiency: Venous insufficiency is when the veins are not able to keep blood flowing back to the lungs and heart.
Vascular Procedures and Surgeries
Vascular surgeons perform a variety of surgical procedures. Some are peformedas traditional “open” surgeries with incisions, others can be done endovascularly a minimally invasive approach that uses tiny incisions and thin, flexible catheters. Vascular surgery procedures include:
- Carotid endarterectomy:Prevent strokes, this surgery is used to remove atherosclerosis or open a carotid artery.
- Dialysis access: There are many ways to access a blood vessel for patients who require dialysis treatment for kidneyskailure.
- Repair and treatment of aneurysms and dissections: Both traditional “open” surgeries and minimally invasive endovascular procedures are used to repair and treat aneurysms and dissections in blood vessels.
- Angioplasty: A minimally invasive procedure in which a device, such as a balloon or stent, is used to open a blocked artery and restore flow of blood.
- Stenting: This is used to widen and hold open blocked arteries such as the coronary arteries — stents are tiny devices implanted in the affected artery by a vascular surgeon using a minimally invasive surgical procedure.
- Catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy: This non-surgical treatment helps to dissolve clots of blood.
- Vascular bypass:This will surgically reroute blood vessels so that blood will flow unobstructed around a blockage.
HIMAS Hospital is known for providing exceptional care and expertise in Vascular Surgery.
